Joann Merritt's Essays

Shenanigans At The Syrup Service Station
September, 1994

Our yard is a veritable mall for the birds where they can shop and make their selections from numerous food and drink outlets. These self-serve outlets are conveniently located within easy flying distance of each other. However, my topic concerns only the Syrup Service Stations and the shenanigans of the birds that come to “fill’er up.”

Orioles drink hummingbird syrup. This was only hearsay as far as I was concerned until this summer when a female Bullock’s Oriole alighted (no, she was too big to alight, she landed) on the hummingbird feeder, wrapped her toes firmly around the perch and pitched herself forward to reach the contents. She couldn’t hold this position because raising her head to swallow made her body tilt backwards. She could accomplish this feat only once or twice - just imagine chinning yourself to reach a bite of food! She somehow kept a grip on the perch with one foot and with the rest of her body hanging down she would fling herself upward with all her might to obtain another sip. She must crave sweets to go through such gymnastics. (Since then she has improved her technique.) While it was amusing to watch these shenanigans we felt sorry for her and placed a crock bowl in the crotch of a tree where she could dine in comfort.

One day I espied a Bewick’s Wren with his head in the syrup bowl. When he raised his head I could see that he had an insect in his bill, but did he catch it in the bowl or had he captured it elsewhere and brought it to dip in the fondue pot”? The Bewick’s Wren is a frequent gleaner around the Syrup Station because of the many insects that are attracted by the drips.

The Verdin was a regular syrup patron during the winter. In late spring when he didn’t appear for several weeks I assumed he had nesting activities on his mind. However, I noticed when the mulberry and apricot trees were devoid of fruit he returned for his refined sugar snacks. Now that the neighbor’s peaches are ripening I will note whether the Verdin again prefers food with all natural ingredients. The Verdin is the “Sensitive Briar” of the birds in our yard. He comes almost apologetically to the feeder, glancing about continually. Merely a perceived threatening motion in his direction will cause him to retreat into his mesquite pasture. But some mornings when he needs his sugar fix he brashly calls tick-tick-tick” while performing chickadee-like acrobatics on the wire S-hook while I’m filling the container.

Many House Finches throng the hummingbird feeders, some drinking from the Oriole’s bowl, all the while keeping up their cheerful chatter. (My Grandson should inform them as he did me, “Grandma, you can’t eat when your mouth is talking!”) One day Mother Finch was drinking syrup while Junior perched on a higher limb quivering his wings, begging to be fed. She obliged him by flying directly to him and transferred lunch from her mouth to his. Was she giving this fledgling syrup? Had she mixed it with some softened grain that was stored in her mouth? Perhaps Junior likes sweetened granola.

An unlikely customer surprised me one day. Red-winged Blackbirds come regularly for sunflower seeds at a nearby feeder so I paid scant attention when they flew in. Later I glanced up to see a molting Red-wing drinking from the Oriole’s bowl. The next day he was back again and brought a friend who observed but didn’t drink - maybe he was the designated flyer. I recognized this individual each time he came because he had lost his tail feathers and glossy plumage. He looked pitiful and was probably taking comfort in sweets.

And you thought I was going to write about hummingbirds, didn’t you? They too perform fascinating shenanigans around their feeders, but we expect them to do that.

P.S. Later I also observed Orchard Oriole, Cactus Wren, Cardinal and Mockingbird at the feeders.